Dispensing machine



Sept. 6, 1938. A. o. siMMoNs 2,129,135

DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllllllwnw X /f Sept. 6, 19 38.

A. o. SIMMONS DISPENSING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fidezziaz't ,flliaza 0 52272272028 Sept. 6, 1938. A, IMM NS 2,129,185

DI SP ENS ING MACHINE Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING MACHINE Allan 0. Simmons, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Simmons Coin Machine 00., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 7, 1934, Serial No. 714,402

9 Claims. (01. 221-108) My invention relates to coin controlled dispenscoin operated. dispensing machine so constructed ing machines. An' object of my invention is to as to be quickly disassembled for repair, and likep a p s g ac ne Which is co wise so constructed as to be quickly and easily structed to prevent clogging or operating of the refilled.

coin mechanism by 1) coins which are too small Another object of my invention is to provide a us or too large in diameter, (D) slugs of too soft a coin control mechanism having no adjustable material, or (c) slugs which are too thin or too parts.

thick. Other objects and advantages of the invention Another object of my invention is to provide will be apparent from the following description means for rejecting coins and slugs of the foreand accompanying drawings, in which "l0 going character. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my complete dis- Another object of my invention is to return to pensing apparatus; the operator all rejected slugs and coins. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line A further object of my invention is a coin op- 2-2 of Fig. 1; l5 erated mechanism which will reject and return to Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the bi the operator a coin if the coin previously inserted merchandise dispensing apparatus proper. Fig. has not passed through the mechanism and ef- 3 also shows the means of attaching the merfected a delivery of merchandise. chandise container to the base;

Another object of my invention is a coin op- Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 erated mechanism so constructed that insertion of Fig. 3; 20 of foreign matter in the coin receiving slot will Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 not clog said mechanism. of Fig. 3;

Another object of my invention is the provision Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of a plug for the coin receiving slot, which plug is of Fig. 4; drawn to such a position to prevent the insertion Fig. '7 is a rear View of the coin controlled 25 of a second coin or foreign matter while the first mechanism showing the details thereof; coin is being delivered to its operative position. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 Another object of my invention is to provide of Fig.7; means to prevent thin slugs from jamming be- Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 tween moving members of the coin mechanism. of Fig. 7; 30

Another object of my invention is the provision Fig. 10 is a front view of the coin slide and carof means for positive delivery of the merchandise rying means therefor; through the merchandise chute to the operator. Fig. 11 is a similar view of Fig. 10, showing the, Another object of my invention is the provision movement of the parts during operation of the 5 of agitating means in the merchandise storage coin controlled mechanism; v 115 chamber, such agitation being necessary, for ex- Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line ample, in extremely cold weather when mer- IZ-EZ of Fig. 10; chandise tends to freeze and form a solid mass. Fig. 13 is a front View of the operating wheel; Such weather conditions, of course, likewise make Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the coin carrying the foregoing positive delivery means necessary. slide; 10

Another object of my invention is to povide Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the dispensing brushes, or the like, suspended over the receiving device showing a variation of my leveling brush. sections of the merchandise delivery wheel to Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 2 replevel off the quantity of merchandise in said secresents a hollow base having an opening 4 at its tions to prevent shearing and mutilation of the top and being open at its bottom, said open bot- 45 merchandise and a resultant clogging or sticking tom being enclosed by a detachable bottom plate of the delivery wheel, rendering the device inop- 6. erable. The bottom plate 6 has feet 1 attached thereto Another object of my invention is to provide in any suitable manner, preferably by screws 9. means for securing the merchandise container to In the form of base used for the present illustra- 50 the dispensing mechanism in such a manner that tion of my invention, the bottom plate 6 is subshould the container itself be broken. the top stantially square and has an integral upstanding would remain securely locked to said dispensing wall l3 extending around its sides and across its portion. rear edge and being offset from its edges, as at I5. Another object of my invention is to provide a The front edge of the plate 6 is provided with a 55 slightly raised forwardly projecting lip ll, this lip being provided with adjustment screws, one of which is shown at IS.

The lower extremities of the walls of the base at the rear and on each side terminate in substantially vertical rims, as shown at 25, the front wall, however, being turned under as shown at 2*. This underturned portion is adapted to engage the lip i! and adjustment screws I9.

The rear wall of the base is provided with an integral horizontaly extending post 25, said post having a screw seat 21 drilled therein.

The plate 6 has near its rear edge and directly under the post 25 an aperture 35 strengthened by a thickened portion 3! of the plate. Screwed into the aperture by means of threads 39 is a lock casing 4|. This lock casing has diametrically opposed channels milled therein, as shown at 43, said channels receiving spreading laminations of the lock proper, which laminations spread only when the key of the look is withdrawn. The casing 49 is held fixedly in the aperture 35 by means of loc'knut 45.

The upwardly extending extremity of the lock has fixedly attached thereto a screw 46, which screw is adapted to be threaded into the seat 2'! of the post 25 when the laminations are drawn into the body of the look by insertion of the key to allow turning thereof.

In operation it will be seen that when the lock proper is inserted in its bearing M, the key being inserted in the lock, the laminations being drawn into the body of the look by the insertion of the key, and disengaged from the channels 43, turning of the key will result in screwing the bearing 4| by means of threads 46 into its seat 21, and upon withdrawal of the key the laminations will engage in the channels 43, which engagement will prevent further screwing in or screwing out of the look.

When the base 2 is placed upon the plate 6 in such a manner that the lip ll overlies the hp 2 the lock bearing 4| is screwed into its seat 21 and the screws l9 are adjusted to provide a tight fit for the plate, the contents of the base 2 will be enclosed within said base. An unauthorized person having no key for the lock will have no means of prying the base open due to the position of wall 13 relative to the joint between the edges of the base 2 and the edge [5 of the plate 6. Similarly the junction of the plate 6 and lip 2 is sealed by the lip ll.

The top opening 4 is bordered by a flange 8, said flange being formed from, and an integral part of, the base 2. A portion of one of the vertical surfaces of the base is cut away to carry the coin controlled mechanism, shown generally at it in Fig, 1. Another portion of the same vertical surface is cut away to provide an aperture, which is generally shown at l l in Fig. 1, through which the merchandise is delivered to the operator. The vertical surface having these cut away portions will be known as the front of the base.

The front edge of the horizontal flange bordering the top opening in said base is raised as at l2 to take the raised portion E2 of the casing of the coin controlled mechanism, as shown at 54, Fig. 2. An integral plate 4'! depends from the under side of the flange 8 adjacent the raised portion l2 in said flange. Attached flush with the horizontal flange circumscribing the opening 4 in the base, is a merchandise container it of glass, or other suitable material. Inserted between the flange 8 and the rim l8 of the merchandise container I6 is a gasket 20, which gasket tends to protect the mechandise in the container from atmospheric conditions.

Resting upon the top rim. 22 of the container 56 is a container retaining ring or cap seat 24 of cast iron, or other suitable material. This retaining ring has a diametrical integral strip 26, which strip is utilized to support another substantially U-shaped iron strip 28. The strip 28 has its top 29 secured to the strip 26 by means of screws 3| and has arms 30 extending downwardly through the body of the container to and under the flange 8. Outwardly extending ends 32 of the strip 28 are secured from the inside of the base 2 to the flange 8 by screws 33.

Inserted between the rim 22 of the container 16 and the ring of seat 24 is a gasket 23 of rubber, or other suitable material, which, like the gasket 20, serves to protect the merchandise in the container from atmospheric conditions.

Supported upon the ring 24 is a cap 34 of cast iron, or other suitable material. The cap 34 is securely locked to the ring 24 in the following manner: the cap 34 has a downwardly extending skirt at 3t. At the forward side of said downwardly extending skirt there is an underturned lip 38. At the rear of said downwardly extending skirt and diametrically opposite the lip 38, a portion of the skirt 3% extends outwardly as at 31.

Projecting downwardly from said outwardly extending portion of the edge 36 is a lug 40 having an aperture 42 therein. The ring 24 has, at the point coinciding with the lip 38, a lip 44 adapted to overlie said lip 38. Diametrically opposite the lip 44 on the ring 24 are two outwardly extending prong members between which depends the lug d0, one of which is shown at 46 in Fig. 2. A suitable locking device for the cap is shown at 48.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the U-shaped member 28 is secured to the flange 8 of the base? 2 by means of screws 33, the container I6 is placed in position upon the flange 8, the ring 24 is placed upon the upper rim 22 of the container IS, the top 29 of the U-shaped strip 28 is secured to the diametrical strip 26 of the ring 24 by means of screws 3|, the cap 34 is attached to the ring 24 by the co-engagement of lips 38 and 44, lug 48 and prongs 46, and the lock 48 extended through the aperture 42 of the lug 40, the base, container, and cap are secured together in such a manner that they cannot be taken apart by breaking the container l6. From the manner of locking the cap 34, container [6 and base 2 together and the manner of attaching the plate 6 to the bottom of the base 2, it will be seen that if the container It were to be broken, it would still be impossible to disengage, without mutilation, the U-shaped strip 28, the ring 24 and the cap 34.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 represent detailed views of my coin controlled mechanism. This mechanism is mounted on the back of the front casing l4 and comprises generally a coin carrying slide iii), which slides upon supporting means, indicated generally at 62. This supporting means is attached to the front casing by screws 64, while the coin carrying slide is held slidably between the front casing l4 and its supporting means 62.

The front casing 14 has a bearing 66 drilled therein, this bearing having rotatably extended therethrough a journal 68, said journal having at its forward extremity an operating handle ll] fixedly secured thereto by a pin 12, and at its rearward extremity a coin controlled operating wheel 14. The wheel 14 is also fixedly engaged to the journal 68 by means of a pin 16. An operating lever adapted to engage the operating wheel 14 is shown at 18, said lever being held by the spring 80 in such a position to engage the upstanding from said front casing as shown in Fig. 2. 1

A release lever 86 is adapted to return the operating wheel 14 to a coin receiving position after it has been revolved by means of the handle 10. Said release lever is attached to the front casing I4 by means of a screw 88 threaded into an integral post 98, said post upstanding from the back of the front casing I4. Extending from the post 90 is an integral pin 92 which limits the downward movement of the lever 86, such downward movement being the result of the action of the spring 94. i

The coin control mechanism, as above described, is assembled upon the rear face of the front casing I4, and the complete assembly is attached to the front wall of the base 2 through the cut away previously referred to, by means of thumbscrews 96, washer 98 and cup-washer 98*, one of which is shown in Fig. 2. The thumbscrews are screwed into the integral post I 02 of the casing I4. It will be seen that the edge I04 of the base 2 is secured tightly between the cup-washer I00 and the edge of the front casing I4.

The supporting means 62 provides a horizontally sliding support for the coin carrying slide 60. These members are preferably of cast metal, each being milled on one of its surfaces to conform to the configuration milled on the surface of the other. As will be seen from the cross sectional view, Fig. 12, the slide 60 is provided on its upper side with a forwardly extending lip I06. A groove I08 is milled into this supporting member, the lower face of said groove being the upper edge of a raised portion on the forward surface of said supporting member as shown at I I0. v

The vertical portion of the supporting member 62 has cut away sections therein, as shown at H2 and H4, the purpose of which will be described later.

A forwardly extending lip II6 provides a further sliding support for'the' member 62. This lip H6 is embedded in the front casing I4 as at Ill. Integral with the member 62 are lugs H8 and I20, the lug H3 providing a support for a magnet I22. The lug I20 provides a support for a locking lever 124, the purpose of which will be described later.

Extending upwardly from the support 62 is a lug I26, which lug provides a support for the tooth lever I28, the latter lever being rotatably secured to said lug by means of a screw I30 and being forced downwardly by means of a spring I32, one arm of said spring bearing against the lever itself, as shown at I34, while the other arm bears against the undersurface of the raised portion I2 of the front casing I4, as shown at I36. The purpose of this lever will be described later.

As shown at I38, in Fig. 7, a portion of the supporting member 62 is cut away, the purpose of which will be described later.

Referring to Fig. 14, the slide 60 is provided with a notch I40 and has a cut away section I42 in approximately the mid-section of its lower half. A ridge I44 is milled out of the slide leaving an end portion I46 being equal in thickness to the width of the track I48 formed by the lip H6 of the supporting member 62. I

The slide 60 is provided with a. rearwardly extending lug I50 which provides a support for a slide operating handle I52, said handle having a rearwardly extending integral plate I54 extending through the cut away section II4 of the support 62 and a similarly cut away slit (not here shown) in the front casing I4. The handle I52 has an extension I53 adapted to cover the cut away in the front casing I4 throughout the operation of the handle, thus preventing the insertion of foreign matter to clog the dispensing machine. The plate I54 is adapted to overlie the lug I50 and be tightly secured thereto by means of screws I55. Attached in any convenient manner to the lug I50 or the plate I54 is one end of a spring I56, the other end being attached to a pin 158, which pin is secured to the lug I60 of the supporting means 62.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the operating handle I52 and the slide 60, to which it is attached, will be drawn on the supporting member 62 Fig. 7, due to the action of spring I56.

Referring to Fig. 10, which shows the relative positions of the slide 60 and the support 62, when the slide is under the action of the spring I56, the coin receiving pocket I62 (see Fig. 9) will be in direct alignment with the coin insert slot I64 (see Figs. 10 and 11) of the supporting member 62. The slot I64 is formed by cutting away a portion of the lip I06 of the support 62. This slot I 64 is in alignment with another slot I 66 similarly cut away in the lip portion I68 of the front casing I4.

When the slots I66, I64 and the pocket I62 are in direct alignment, a coin inserted in the slot I66 will drop directly to rest in the pocket I62 of the slide 60.

Referring to Figs. 8, 10 and 11, when the handle I52 is drawn to the left, as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, against the action of spring I56, the coin carried by the pocket I62 will be drawn along the bottom track I48 of the support 62 until the pocket comes into alignment with a third slot I10, which slot is formed by cutting awaya portion of the lip II6 of the supporting member 62. It will be seen that when the pocket I62 and the slot I10 are in direct alignment, the coin will fall from the pocket I62 through said slot to a coin receiving wheel to be hereafter described.

Should the slug inserted be too small or of a tooth lever I28 with the notch I40. In other words, in order that the tooth lever I28 allow the slide to be suificiently operated to deliver the coin through the slot I10 to the coin receiving wheel 14, it is necessary that the coin be of such a size to provide a sliding surface for the lever I28 to pass over the notch I40.

Referring to Fig. 7, the lever I28 may be provided with an extension or lever I12. Should the coin be too large, it is obvious that the utility of the notch I40 would be defeated and the slide would pass under the tooth lever I28. Should the pocket I62 be of such a size that it would receive a coin larger than that of the denomination the machine is built for, such a larger coin inserted in the pocket would raise the lever I28, which lever being fixedly secured to, or integral with the lever I12, the latter would be forced downwardly to engage the side of the lug I50 toward the left, as viewed in and its attached plate I54, thus again preventing movement of the slide 60 by the handle I52 into such a position that the pocket I62. would be in direct alignment with the slot I10, thereby delivering the coin to the coin receiving wheel I4.

A spring seat I14 is drilled into the rear face of the support 62, a spring Il6 terminating therein engages a holding tooth I18 on one arm of the lever I24. This lever I24 is rotatably secured to the lug I20 by means of a screw I80. The end I82 of the lever I24, which is remote from the spring engaging end, is provided with a toothshaped tip I84, which tip rides against the top of ridge I44 of the slide 60. The purpose of this lever is to prevent the operation of my dispensing machine should the operator attempt to use thin slugs or washers having holes therein in lieu of legitimate coins. The tip I84 bites into slugs of soft material.

Referring to Fig. 9, the pocket in slide 66 is milled to the exact thickness of the coin intended .to be used in my machine, and it will be seen that when coins of the proper thickness are used, the slide may be drawn to the right, in Fig. 9, and as the pocket passes the tip I84 the coin will prevent said tip from being forced forward by the spring II6. Should the coin be of less thickness than the vertical portion of the slide 66, or should the coin be a washer, or the like, having a hole in the center, the spring II6 will force the tip I84 forward, and when the surface I86 is progressed it will abut against said tip, which has protruded partially into the pocket I62 due to the thinness or perforation in a slug, such abutment preventing further movement of the slide and thus preventing the pocket I62 coming into direct alignment with the slot I10.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noticed that the right end-of the supporting member 62 is cut away. The purpose of the space provided by this cutting away is as follows: should any foreign matter, which might tend to jam between the rearward face of the slide 66 and forward face of the support 62, accumulate on the track I48, the thickened portion I49 and the slide 60 being of the same width as the track I48 will clear said track of this foreign matter during the operation by handle I52 which, when pushed to the extreme right during the operation of my mechanism, will fall down to the bottom of the base 2.

It is a practice of those attempting to operate dispensing machines by counterfeit slugs, to use a plurality of very thin sheets cut the size of a penny. When such thin sheets are used in this manner, it is possible for one or more of them to slip out of the pocket holding them and fall down into such a position that they will jam between two moving parts of the mechanism and thus prevent further operation until the machine has been disassembled and repaired. It will be seen that the probable place in my device for such jamming, would occur first between the rear face of the front casing I4 and the front face of the slide 60 should a coin slip horizontally out of the pocket I62; and, second, such a jamming would occur if one of these thin plates were to become lodged between the rear face of the front casing I4 and the front face of the operating wheel I4. To obviate any possibility of such jamming, I have provided on the front face of the slide 60 a series of protuberances I90. As indicated in the drawings, these protuberances I90 are located adjacent to and on each side of the pocket I62. These protuberances extend into longitudinal grooves I92 milled into the rear face of the front casing I4.

In a like manner, I have provided pins I94 on the forward face of the coin receiving wheel I4, which pins extend into and ride in annular grooves I96 milled into the rear face of the front casing I4.

The intermediary mechanism between the coin insert operation and the confection dispensing operation, is a coin receiving wheel I4. The operation of the coin receiving wheel I4 is effected by the rotation of the journal 68, which is in turn operated by the handle I0.

This wheel I4 has integral forwardingly extending annular rims I98 having diametrically opposite cut away sections 200 of such a size as to receive the particular coin intended to be used with my dispensing machine. These rims I98 have protruding horizontally from their forward tips in relation to the direction of rotation, integral pins 202.

The periphery of the wheel I4 adjacent the rims I98 is toothed, as shown at 264. Adjacent the broken away portions 200, the periphery has at approximately the middle of said spaces, an abutment 206. Due to the action of spring on the lever I8, the lever is held tightly against the irregular surface of wheel I4; thus should the wheel 14 be turned by means of handle I0 and should there be no coin in the coin receiving space 200, the tip 208 of the lever I8 will engage the abutment 296 and prevent rotation of the wheel I4. However, should a coin have passed through the slot I10 and to the coin receiving space 200 of the wheel I4, it will be seen that upon rotation, the tip 208 of the lever I8 will be lifted over the abutment 296 and allow a half rotation until the diametrically opposed abutment comes into contact with said tip. The rear side of said wheel I4 has integral rearwardly extending riders 2I0 upon which the lever 86 rides during rotation of the wheel. Immediately forward of said riders,

with relation to the direction of rotation of the wheel I4, are integral pins 2I2. The purpose of this lever 86 is to prevent the operating wheel I4 coming into a position of rest with the tip 208 of the lever I8 against the abutment 206, for it will be seen that in such a position the receiving space 200 would not be in alignment with the slot II0, which would. prevent the proper positioning of the coin, as shown at I88, to allow operation of my dispensing machine.

The lever 86 operates as follows: under the action of spring 94, said lever rests against one of the pins 2 I2, and due to its spring action revolves the wheel I4 in a direction opposite to that of operation until the under side of tip 208 of the lever I8 rests against the abutment 2I4 of the wheel I4.

Extending horizontally rearward and integral with the wheel I4 is a pin 2 I6, which pin engages the slot 2I8 of the bell crank 220.

Attached to the under side of the flange 8 is a cap 222. Depending from and integral with said cap is an annular flange 224. The cap 222 is attached to the flange 8 by means of screws 226, which screws have their seat in posts 228 of a dispensing wheel support 230. The dispensing wheel is shown at 262 and has a series of gear teeth 294 on its lower outward edge. The dispensing wheel 232 is divided into segmental compartments 236, as shown in Figure 5. Depending from the dispensing wheel support 230 are the arms 238, which arms serve to carry rotatably the journal 240. The bell crank 220 is fixedly securedto the forward end of the journal 246, while the gear wheel 242 is fixedly secured on its rearward end. The teeth of the gear wheel 242 are adapted to engage the teeth 234 of the dispensing wheel 232.

Referring to Fig. 5, the segmental compartments 236 are clearly shown. These compartments are separated from one another by means of walls 244, which walls extend radially from a central post 246. Overlying the central post and the separating walls 244 is a plate 248 having downwardly extending flanges 246 adapted to cover the rearward wall of the segmental compartments 236 with relation to the direction of rotation. This plate 248 is secured to the separating walls 244 and the central post 226 by means of a screw 256, said screw extending through the slot 252 in the plate and into the central post 246. It will be seen that by loosening the screw 256 the plate may be rotated with relation to the separating walls and thus vary the size of the compartments 236.

Extending through an aperture in the center of the strip 26 of the ring 24 is a central rod 254. This central rod extends downwardly through the merchandise container I6 and is fixedly secured in the central post 246 as at 256 and has a reduced end portion 258 revolving in an aperture in the center of the dispensing plate support 236. Thus it will be seen that the rod 254 serves as the centraling journal for the dispensing system of my dispensing machine.

Referring to Fig. 4, the cap 222 has a segmental aperture shown at 266. This aperture serves to allow delivery of the merchandise from the merchandise container I6 to the pockets 236 of the dispensing wheel. It will beseen that as the dispensing wheel revolves, the compartments 236 will pass under the aperture 266 and, if empty, will be filled from the container I6. The top of the cap serves as the floor of the chamber I6.

Referring to Fig. 2, 262 represents a delivery chute, the top opening of which leads to an aperture 264 in the dispensing wheel support 236. This aperture is shown at 264. But for this portion cut away to provide the aperture 264, the dispensing wheel support is a solid plate serving as the floor of the segmental compartments 236. It, will thus be seenthat, while the compartments, 236 are passing over the solid portion of the support 236, they will retain the merchandise, but upon reaching the aperture 264 the said merchandise will be delivered through the chute 262: to the operator.

Secured to the under side of the cap 222 and directly above the delivery aperture 264 is a spring plate 266. While the dispensing wheel revolves, the spring plate rides on the upper surface of the separating walls 244. As the segmental compartment from which the merchandise is to be delivered reaches a position in direct alignment with the aperture 264, which is substantially the same shape as these compartments, the forward wall of the latter compartment will pass from under the spring plate 266 which, due to its spring action, will snap into the body of the chamber from which the merchandise is to be delivered. This snapping action serves as, a positive delivery of the merchandise, should the latter, due to atmospheric conditions, be in 'a frozen or sticky, coagulated condition. In vending machines of the type heretofore used, when themerchandise, due to. freezing or mois- 7 ture, became a solid mass, the machine was rendered inoperative because of non-delivery. The spring 266 obviates this condition.

A series of brushes 268 are secured to the bottom of the cap in any suitable manner. These brushes are positioned in such a manner that the compartments 236, after being filled, will pass thereunder and the merchandise protruding above the separating walls 244 will be brushed or knocked therefrom. Another brush or other brushes are situated in a position that, should merchandise be resting on the upper face of any wall of the chamber 244 after passing the delivery aperture 264, they will brush such merchandise into the following compartment.

Referring to Fig. 15, which shows a modification of the cap 222 and brushes 268, the cap may be raised to extend into the body of container i 6 as shown at 223. Instead of the brushes a device having a flexible band metal support 225 and extending wire prongs 22'! may be used. The wires are turned up in the direction of rotation of the dispensing wheel as shown at 226.

The purpose of the above brushes is to prevent any merchandise from taking a position in the merchanism that would allow its shearing and thus clogging or jamming the operation of the vending machine.

A cross arm 216 is fixedly secured to the rod 254. The purpose of this cross arm is to break up the merchandise in the container I6 should it have formed a solid mass due to atmospheric conditions.

The operation of the dispensing apparatus is as follows:

The operator, having inserted a coin in the slot 212, which coin by operation of the handle I62 has been delivered to the coin receiving wheel I4, turns the operating handle i6 which, due to the presence of the coin in the pockets 266 of the coin receiving wheel I4, allows rotation of the latter wheelfor one-halfa turn, which rotation is transmitted to the pin 2I6. The rotation of the pin 2I6, which engages the bell crank 226, is transmitted through the journal 246 to the gear wheel 242. As the gear wheel 242 and the teeth thereof engage the gears 234 of the dispensing wheel, the latter is revolved. The gear wheel 242 and the dispensing wheel 232 are geared together in such a manner that the 180 degree rotation of the coin receiving wheel 14 transmits to the dispensing wheel that amount of rotation necessary to pass one of the compartments 236 over the delivery aperture 264. Thus it will be seen that, by the insertion of one coin, it will be possible to receive merchandise from only one of the merchandise compartments 236.

The operation of my coin controlled mechanism is as follows:

The operator inserts a coin inthe slot I66 through which the coin falls and comes to rest in the pocket I62 of the coin carrying slide 66. The coin, being of that denomination for which my machine is built, will extend the entire height of the slide, thereby providing a surface for carrying the tooth lever I28 over the notch I46.

This coin, also being of the proper thickness, that is, of a thickness equal to the depth of the pocket I62, will provide a continuous surface with the adjacent sides of the pocket I62, thus preventing the tip I64 of the lever I82 being forced forwardly by the spring I16 and preventing complete operation of the slide by the abutment of the tip I64 and the side I86 of the pocket I62.

Again assuming the coin to be of normal dimensions and the slide allowed to be moved against the action of spring I56 by means of the handle I52, the pocket, as before described, will be drawn into direct alignment with the slot I10 of the slide support 62. Should the coin inserted be a slug of steel or the like, its further progress will be prevented by the magnet I22. Assuming it to be normal, it will fall through the slot I10 into the pocket 200 of the coin receiving wheel 14 held in a receiving position by means of the lever 86 under the action of spring 94. The presence of the coin in the pocket 208 provides a smooth engaging surface for the lever 288, which surface carries said lever over the notch 206 and allows a 180-degree rotation of the handle II! with the wheel I4 in the manner hereinbefore described. The 180-degree rotation of the pin 2 I6 is transmitted to the merchandise dispensing apparatus.

Should the slug inserted be of lead, cardboard, fiber, linoleum, or the like, such type of slugs being commonly used in vending machines of this type, the sharp tip of the tooth lever I28 will bite into such soft slugs, thus preventing the operation of the machine by engaging the notch I40 due to said biting into the slug.

When the coin carrying slide 60 is operated by means of the handle I52 against the action of spring I56, the slots I64 and I66 will be covered by the thicker portion 214 of the slide 60. By means of this enlarged portion, it will be seen that during the operation by means of the handle I52, the operator cannot insert another coin but must wait until the operation from the previous coin has been completed.

Should the operator insert a coin into the pocket I62 and by operation of the lever I52 draw the coin into alignment with the slot IIll, thereby delivering it to the coin receiving wheel, and then release the handle I52, thereby bringing the pocket I62 back to its normal position, and thereupon insert a second coin in the pocket I62, and again attempt by operation of the handle I52 to deliver the coin into the slot I'll] to the coin receiving wheel 14, the second coin, upon attempting to drop into the pocket 200 of the coin receiving wheel, will be prevented from doing so by the presence of the first-mentioned coin.

The second coin, instead of being retained by the mechanism, will be returned to the operator in the same manner as are slugs and other rejected counterfeits by which the machine may be attempted to be operated.

It will be seen that when a coin is of a different material or of different dimensions from the coin for which the machine is built, the levers I28 and I24 serve to prevent such slug of improper material or improper dimensions from progressing beyond the point of resting in the pocket I62. The result of this action of these levers is that the coin, when rejected, is returned directly to the operator and may be easily withdrawn from the machine, obviating any necessity for the presence of a repairman whenever a slug is inserted.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a vending machine which cannot be clogged by slugs or by the insertion of a second coin before the first has passed through the control mechanism.

I have also provided a machine in which it is impossible to insert another coin or any foreign matter while a previously inserted coin is being drawn through the control mechanism.

I have provided a coin control mechanism which will not permit counterfeit slugs to leave the control of the operator but will be necessarily returned to him.

I have also provided means whereby thin slugs and foreign matter cannot wedge between the moving parts of the mechanism and thus jam the mechanism.

I have provided positive delivery means for the merchandise to insure delivery during moist or cold weather.

I have provided means for preventing jamming and mutilation of the merchandise by the mechanism.

I have provided a vending machine assembled in such a manner as to protect it from being pried open and in such a manner that the only exposed disassembling means are the locks themselves and though the merchandise chamber be broken the cash in the machine is still securely locked.

The details of my invention above described are given as illustration and may be changed and 20 modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a vending machine, a hollow base having a lug on one of its walls, said lug having a screw seat therein, said screw seat being adapted to receive one end of a suitable locking element, said base being open at its top and bottom, the bottom opening being bordered in part by vertical lower extremities of the walls of the base, the remaining part being bordered by a lip formed by an inwardly extending lower extremity of the wall, a plate adapted to cover the bottom opening of the base, said plate having at a portion of its border a raised lip to coengage with the lip of the base, the remainder of the border being provided with an upstanding wall offset from its edge, said upstanding wall being adapted to fit flush with the inner surface of the vertical extremities of the wall of the base, a container adapted to sit on the top opening of said base and being fastened thereto by means not accessible from the space enclosed by said container,

2. In a vending machine, a hollow base having an opening at its top, said opening being bordered by an inwardly extending flange, a merchandise container adapted to sit on said flange, said container having an open top and bottom, a ring adapted to sit on the open top of said container, said ring having a diametrical integral cross piece, a cap being adapted to cover said ring and the top opening of said container and to lock with said ring, a substantially U-shaped strip having the extremities of its arms turned outwardly, the outwardly turned extremities adapted to fasten to the base, the portion of said U-shaped strip remote from said outwardly turned extremities being adapted to be fastened to said diametrically integral cross piece.

3. In a vending machine, a base, a flange extending inwardly of and bordering an aperture in the top of said base, an open ended merchandise container adapted seated on said base, a closure assembly for the end of said container remote from said base, said closure assembly including a, retaining ring and a cap, said cap being adapted to overlie said ring and to be locked therewith, said ring having a cross piece thereon, means for connecting said base, container and closure assembly together comprising an inverted substantially U-shaped element having laterally extending portions on the legs thereof and a transverse portion remote from said laterally extending portions, members for fastening said laterally extending portions against the underside of said flange and accessible for removal only from within said base, members for securing the transverse portion of said substantially U-shaped member to the underside of said cross piece and being accessible for removal only from above said cross piece when said cap is removed from said retaining ring.

4. In a vending machine, a base, a flange on said base and bordering an aperture therein, a closure assembly including a ring and a cap, said cap being adapted to overlie said ring and be locked therewith, means for securing said base and closure assembly together comprising a connecting means having laterally extending portions, members for fastening said portions to said flange and accessible for removal only from within said base, and members for securing said connecting means to said ring and being accessible for removal only when said cap is removed from over said ring.

5. In a vending machine, a base, a cap assembly including a cap and a ring for receiving said cap, means for connecting said base with said cap assembly, members for securing said connecting means to said base and being accessible for removal only from within said base, members for securing said connecting means to said cap assembly and being accessible for removal only when said cap is removed from said cap assembly.

6. In a vending machine, a cap assembly including a cap and a cap seat to which said cap is adapted to be locked, said cap seat having a transverse member, means for supporting said cap assembly, means for securing said supporting means to said cross piece inserted from the face of said cross piece adjacent said cap and being accessible for removal from said face only when said cap is removed from said cap assembly.

7. In a vending machine, a base and a top a flange on said base, said flange extending inwardly of and bordering an aperture therein, securing means extending from said base through said aperture and having laterally extending portions, said laterally extending portions being secured to the under surface of said flange by members inserted from within said base and being accessible for removal only from within said base.

8. In a vending machine, a base having an aperture in the top thereof, a merchandise container having an open bottom, a retaining member on the top of said container, said container being adapted to sit on said base so that the aperture in said base and the open bottom of said container are in alignment, dispensing mechanism in said base at said aperture for establishing metered communication between said container and said base, means for securing said base and said retaining member together with said container comprising an element secured to said base by members accessible for removal only from within said base and secured to said retaining member by members accessible for removal only from the side of said retaining member remote from said container.

9. In a vending machine, a base having an open bottom, said open bottom being bordered in part by substantially vertical lower extremities of the walls of the base, a lip bordering the remaining part, said lip comprising an inwardly extending lower extremity of the wall, a closure member adapted to cover the bottom opening of the base, said closure member having at a portion of its border a raised lip, said lip being adapted to coengage with the lip of the base, the remainder of the border being provided with an upstanding wall offset from its edge, said upstanding wall being adapted to fit against the inner extremities of the wall of the base, means for holding said closure member in locked engagement with said base.

ALLAN 0-. SIMMONS. 

